This is the last edition of the NBA Rankings. This time we shall look on the Pacific Division
Los Angeles Lakers
Biggest Surprise - Shannon Brown. The high-leaping athlete was a big surprise for the Lakeshow. Averaging a career high 7.6 ppg, Brown provides a spark from the Laker's bench with his athleticism and energy.
Biggest Disappointment - Ron Artest. His numbers are down, which is expected in a loaded Lakers team with Kobe Bryant at the helm, but the main reason Artest was brought in L.A. is for defense, and it seems that the defensive intensity of the Lakers is not there, especially against physical teams. Artest is known for playing physically and is not seeing the intensity on the defensive end we're used to see from him.
Team Grade - B. The Lakers had a home-heavy schedule early on, which is a big reason why they are on top of the Western Conference. They are decent on the road too, having an 11-9 record as of this writing, but they need to address their weakness, meaning playing with more intensity and not let sub-.500 teams play them down to the wire and delivering on the big games.
Phoenix Suns
Biggest Surprise - Steve Nash. He is turning 36 this February, but Nash is having a career season, scoring 18.5 ppg, 11 dimes a game while shooting 52.3% from the field, 43.3% from the three and 94.5% on the line.
Biggest Disappointment - Leandro Barbosa. The Brazilian Blur has just completed his wrist surgery, but his numbers are down across the board, from 14.2 ppg to 10.6 ppg this year, and his shooting from 48.2% to 42.2%.
Team Grade - B. After a scorching start in November, the Suns are starting to struggle as teams find a way to take advantage of their weak frontline defense. It is amazing how Nash is able to carry this team and have a career averages this season despite his age, but will it be enough for the Suns to secure a playoff spot?
Los Angeles Clippers
Biggest Surprise - Chris Kaman. Kaman is averaging a career-high 20 ppg this season, along with 9.1 rebounds. Now that Blake Griffin will be out for the season, Kaman will be the main offensive force in the post for the Clippers, who are trying to hold on the playoff bubble.
Biggest Disappointment - Blake Griffin. It is tough to put Griffin's name here, as it is totally not his fault for being injured but as the first draft pick, everybody is having high expectations for Griffin, but now he will not even play a single game this season.
Team Grade - C+. Despite Griffin not playing a single game, the Clippers are desperately hanging on outside the playoff bubble, but it looks like the other L.A. team will not be able to hold on much longer on the tight Western Conference playoff spot.
Sacramento Kings
Biggest Surprise - Tyreke Evans. When Kevin Martin went down with an injury, Evans carried the Kings by himself. Averaging 20.8 ppg, 4.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, Evans is trying to become the fourth player in NBA history to average 20-5-5 in his rookie year, along with Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and LeBron James.
Biggest Disappointment - Kevin Martin. Since he came back from the injury, Martin is averaging only 12.7 ppg while shooting 31.2% from the field and 27% from beyond the arc. It is looking more and more like Martin and Evans cannot co-exist together.
Team Grade - C-. The Kings were able to have a stretch outside the playoff bubble in December, but since then, they have struggled and looking like a lottery team again that many expected. This will be a good time to develop the chemistry of Kevin Martin and Tyreke Evans at least until before the trade deadline. Else, if the Kings may be looking to move Martin and build their franchise behind Evans in the future.
Golden State Warriors
Biggest Surprise - Monta Ellis. Ellis is now leading the Warriors the way the Warriors were expecting him when they gave him that huge contract last season, and now it is paying dividends, with Ellis scoring 26.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 5.5 dimes a game while playing 42 minutes a game!
Biggest Disappointment - Andris Biedrins. Biedrins is coming back from an injury, but the energy is not yet up to the levels he had the previous years, although his form is slowly coming back. Until then, 5.3 ppg and 10% from the free throw line won't cut it for a starting center.
Team Grade - D. Lately, the Warriors are getting to the same route the Blazers are having, injured players. Not good, especially on a struggling team like the Warriors, although this circumstance forced Don Nelson to play Stephen Curry a lot of minutes and is responding to the call which could be a blessing in disguise as the Warriors build on for next season.
Los Angeles Lakers
Biggest Surprise - Shannon Brown. The high-leaping athlete was a big surprise for the Lakeshow. Averaging a career high 7.6 ppg, Brown provides a spark from the Laker's bench with his athleticism and energy.
Biggest Disappointment - Ron Artest. His numbers are down, which is expected in a loaded Lakers team with Kobe Bryant at the helm, but the main reason Artest was brought in L.A. is for defense, and it seems that the defensive intensity of the Lakers is not there, especially against physical teams. Artest is known for playing physically and is not seeing the intensity on the defensive end we're used to see from him.
Team Grade - B. The Lakers had a home-heavy schedule early on, which is a big reason why they are on top of the Western Conference. They are decent on the road too, having an 11-9 record as of this writing, but they need to address their weakness, meaning playing with more intensity and not let sub-.500 teams play them down to the wire and delivering on the big games.
Phoenix Suns
Biggest Surprise - Steve Nash. He is turning 36 this February, but Nash is having a career season, scoring 18.5 ppg, 11 dimes a game while shooting 52.3% from the field, 43.3% from the three and 94.5% on the line.
Biggest Disappointment - Leandro Barbosa. The Brazilian Blur has just completed his wrist surgery, but his numbers are down across the board, from 14.2 ppg to 10.6 ppg this year, and his shooting from 48.2% to 42.2%.
Team Grade - B. After a scorching start in November, the Suns are starting to struggle as teams find a way to take advantage of their weak frontline defense. It is amazing how Nash is able to carry this team and have a career averages this season despite his age, but will it be enough for the Suns to secure a playoff spot?
Los Angeles Clippers
Biggest Surprise - Chris Kaman. Kaman is averaging a career-high 20 ppg this season, along with 9.1 rebounds. Now that Blake Griffin will be out for the season, Kaman will be the main offensive force in the post for the Clippers, who are trying to hold on the playoff bubble.
Biggest Disappointment - Blake Griffin. It is tough to put Griffin's name here, as it is totally not his fault for being injured but as the first draft pick, everybody is having high expectations for Griffin, but now he will not even play a single game this season.
Team Grade - C+. Despite Griffin not playing a single game, the Clippers are desperately hanging on outside the playoff bubble, but it looks like the other L.A. team will not be able to hold on much longer on the tight Western Conference playoff spot.
Sacramento Kings
Biggest Surprise - Tyreke Evans. When Kevin Martin went down with an injury, Evans carried the Kings by himself. Averaging 20.8 ppg, 4.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, Evans is trying to become the fourth player in NBA history to average 20-5-5 in his rookie year, along with Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and LeBron James.
Biggest Disappointment - Kevin Martin. Since he came back from the injury, Martin is averaging only 12.7 ppg while shooting 31.2% from the field and 27% from beyond the arc. It is looking more and more like Martin and Evans cannot co-exist together.
Team Grade - C-. The Kings were able to have a stretch outside the playoff bubble in December, but since then, they have struggled and looking like a lottery team again that many expected. This will be a good time to develop the chemistry of Kevin Martin and Tyreke Evans at least until before the trade deadline. Else, if the Kings may be looking to move Martin and build their franchise behind Evans in the future.
Golden State Warriors
Biggest Surprise - Monta Ellis. Ellis is now leading the Warriors the way the Warriors were expecting him when they gave him that huge contract last season, and now it is paying dividends, with Ellis scoring 26.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 5.5 dimes a game while playing 42 minutes a game!
Biggest Disappointment - Andris Biedrins. Biedrins is coming back from an injury, but the energy is not yet up to the levels he had the previous years, although his form is slowly coming back. Until then, 5.3 ppg and 10% from the free throw line won't cut it for a starting center.
Team Grade - D. Lately, the Warriors are getting to the same route the Blazers are having, injured players. Not good, especially on a struggling team like the Warriors, although this circumstance forced Don Nelson to play Stephen Curry a lot of minutes and is responding to the call which could be a blessing in disguise as the Warriors build on for next season.
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